Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Burns

The Scottish poet Robert Burns. Sort of a caricature off of the few existing portraits I could find. My version makes him look a bit like a gangly teen. Was fun to scumble and glaze and chop in cloudy shapes. Every painting feels like it's a tiny step toward the next one. Maybe I'll try him again someday.

Don't be ridiculous.Haggis don't grow on trees, they are mammals. They have one leg longer than the other, and run around mountains clockwise. The females have the opposite leg shorter and they run anticlockwise. They only meet once every year at the center of the mountain, where they mate. To catch one, you simply have to run anticlockwise around mountains. They have tartan skin, from which kilts are made.*

I want to see Steve's rendition of my description of a haggis now :D

*all of the above may be a complete lie that us Scots tell to American tourists, but you won't know for sure until you run around a mountain.

Anyway, huzzah to you, Steve. The Bard has been my favourite poet ever since I read Tam O'Shanter.